Hello and welcome to the Newcastle United live blog for Wednesday, December 20.

Newcastle United head to West Ham on Saturday looking to end a damaging run of eight defeats from nine as they enter the crucial Christmas period. While Rafa Benitez is battling problems on the pitch there is also a measure of uncertainty off it, with the takeover still apparently up in the air.

United have been linked with a crop of new names - Danny Ings and Charly Musonda were among the names linked on Tuesday.

We'll have the latest on the takeover and also January transfer rumours that are starting to stack up.

As ever we want to hear from you, so please send us your thoughts over Facebook at www.facebook.com/chroniclenufc/ or on Twitter at @ChronicleNUFC.

United after Jonathan Bamba?

Reports suggest that Saint-Etienne’s Jonathan Bamba is requesting a contract worth €150,000 per-week but that Newcastle and Huddersfield still hold an interest while Marseille and Angers have now joined the race.

18:12Mark Douglas

Colback not on Sunderland's list

Sunderland Echo say Jack Colback NOT on Sunderland’s list:

Chris Coleman is hoping to bring in up to five new players in January - but Newcastle United midfielder Jack Colback is not on his radar. Cash-strapped Sunderland will be limited in terms of the business they can do, with loan deals set to dominate the January transfer business.

Jack Colback in action (Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

17:54KEY EVENT

West Ham to sell Andy Carroll?

Our collegues down at Football London have suggested that Andy Carroll could leave in January.

Some supporters - not all - have lost patience with former Newcastle striker Andy Carroll. The board were said to be furious over his red card earlier in the season against Burnley and are beginning to think that - along with his injury record - he is becoming a liability. His return from his most recent problem hasn’t exactly been a roaring success. No doubt if they got an offer in January for Carroll then it would be considered - unless they sell Sakho then it’s unlikely - but with his injury record still highly questionable, the Hammers could also cash in on Carroll or risk losing him for much less the summer after this one.

Supermac on Perez

He’s got a good footballing mind; I just wish he could do it a little bit more.

17:20Andrew Musgrove

Michael Owen prediction

In his Bet Victor blog, the former United striker predicts WHU vs NUFC.

West Ham have kept clean sheets in their last three PL games and I think they can make it a miserable Christmas for the Toon Army given the Magpies go in to the game having lost their last four. There wasn’t much love lost between Rafa Benitez and David Moyes when they were managing Liverpool and Everton respectively and the former Reds boss is unbeaten in his last nine PL encounters against Moyes. I think the Hammers will edge what promises to be a tight low-scoring affair although the hosts will miss their influential suspended midfielder Manuel Lanzini.

16:56Andrew Musgrove

Full story: Islam Slimani

16:49KEY EVENT

Cenk Tosun price increase?

Reports from Turkey suggest that the price Cenk Tosun has been upped to £35 million.

Besiktas forward Cenk Tosun (Image: OZAN KOSE/AFP/Getty Images)

16:26Andrew Musgrove

Alessandro Pistone interview

The former Newcastle United defender spoke to Team 33:

Everybody had problems with Ruud Gullit. He did not spend a lot of time with the team. I never saw him change his idea[s]. I don’t think he had a good relation with players so that was probably his problem.

15:47KEY EVENT

REPORTS: United chase Islam Slimani

Reports from Algerian media Le Buteur and Compétition claim that Newcastle United and Watford have both made loan bids for the Leicester City striker who has rarely featured for the Foxes since his move from Sporting Lisbon In August 2016. He cost £28 million but has only played seven times. This quote comes from Competition.

Two clubs in the Premier League have already made official offers for their Leicester counterpart. These are Watford and Newcastle. Two very serious tracks where could therefore land the Algerian striker.

15:26KEY EVENT

Mick Quinn on Rafa Benitez and the takeover

A snippet from his weekly column.

Without Rafa, I don’t think the current interest would be there. Rafa is one of the attractions bringing them to Newcastle. Luckily I think Amanda Staveley and PCP can see the potential that this club has - even if Newcastle go down, which of course we don’t want and that of course seems to be the main sticking point to any agreement.

15:11Sean McCormick

17 days that shaped NUFC's year

Take a trip down memory lane...

14:52Sean McCormick

Craig Bellamy favourite to become Wales boss

The former Newcastle forward has been installed as the bookmakers favourite to be named the next Wales manager.

Bellamy’s odds have slashed to 2/7 after a flurry of bets this morning, with FA Wales set to make an announcement early in 2018.

The three-man shortlist was said to be Ryan Giggs, Osian Roberts and Tony Pulis but the recent betting patterns have suggested that Bellamy - a coach at Cardiff City’s academy - could be in the reckoning.

(Image: Getty Images Europe)

14:43Sean McCormick

Past clashes with West Ham

Is East London a happy stomping ground for Newcastle?

14:19Sean McCormick

West Ham v Newcastle in figures

What does history suggest?

13:54Craig Johns

Shay Given: Introduction of Video Assistant Referee is inevitable

Shay Given has told BetStars that he believes the introduction of a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) is ‘inevitable’. The technology, he says, should be used for big decisions such as the Thierry Henry handball that led to a William Gallas goal scored against Ireland in a World Cup Finals play-off in 2009.

Given, who won 134 caps for Ireland, was between the sticks for the infamous Thierry Henry handball that denied the Irish team a place in the 2010 World Cup Finals.

Shay Given told BetStars: “I think the introduction of VAR is inevitable and it should be involved for the big, massive decisions like that [handball by Thierry Henry]. It’s huge. We missed out on the World Cup because of a handball. People have been relegated on different big decisions as well.”

The former Newcastle and Manchester City number one said of the incident: “My immediate response was that I was about to take a free kick as it was such an obvious handball – it was a double handball! I thought ‘it’s a free kick, the ref must have seen it’, but when I looked at the ref he was pointing at the centre circle.”

Given admitted that he has now forgiven the Frenchman but he would relish the chance to discuss it with him. He said: “You forgive and forget, don’t you? I’ve met him [Henry] a couple of times and said hello, but he’s never really spoken about that incident. I’d love to get his take on it. Him sitting in front of a camera talking about it. He must always say to the cameraman, ‘no don’t ask that question’ but it’d be interesting to hear what he says.”

Though it is now too late, Given believes VAR would have seen the goal ruled out. He said: “A fourth official could have been up in the stand with VAR, mic’d up with the technology they have now. [They would have said:] ‘Yes, it was a handball. Free kick. I’ll take a look at it and play on.’ No controversy.”

Shay Given was speaking to online betting site BetStars. Visit BetStars News for more from the former Premier League goalkeeper.

(Image: Leon Csernohlavek Photography)

13:52Sean McCormick

Newcastle favourites to sign Slimani

According to the bookmakers, the Magpies are the favourites to sign the out of favour Foxes forward.

Slimani did not even make the bench for last night’s Carabao Cup clash with Manchester City and is days at the King Power Stadium seem numbered.

The Magpies are 6/4 favourites to secure his signature next month, with Watford 5/2 second favourites.

West Brom are 7/2 to sign the Algerian international, while Stoke are 4/1.

As you might expect. . .

The days that defined Newcastle's 2017. . .

Do you agree?

12:39

Chris Waugh on Palace and West Ham

Does it reaffirm the point that Benitez is trying to make?

Look at WHU should their squad be where it is? Look at Crystal Palace. Should a team like Crystal Palace with players like Wilfried Zaha, Andros Townsend etc. be where they are? Should West Ham - with Marko Arnautović, Javier Hernandez, Andy Carroll - they have these resources. Put it into context with what Benitez is saying.

12:34

Newcastle, Benitez and Chelsea

Just how will Rafa Benitez’s links to Chelsea help United in the January transfer window?

Ahead of the mid-season window, Benitez has once again contacted Chelsea and made it clear that he is interested in any fringe first-team player - or even a talented youngster, though the Spaniard is prioritising recruiting experienced Premier League performers - who may be available on loan. It is no surprise, therefore, that several Blues players whose futures appear uncertain at Stamford Bridge have been linked with Newcastle.

Newcastle and Everton interested in Bristol City left-back

According to TeamTalk, Joe Bryan is interesting the Premier League duo.

Bryan has been a major part of Bristol City’s positive start to the Championship season and their run to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals and was linked to Newcastle in the summer.

The report claims that both clubs have scouted Bryan on a number of occasions this season and are weighing up a January move for the Robins defender.

His team-mate Josh Brownhill has also been linked with Newcastle.

Bristol City's Joe Bryan (Image: PA Wire)

11:11Sean McCormick

Brighton game sold out

Incredible support.

11:09Sean McCormick

Luke Shaw in the Man United squad this evening

The England international is a January loan target for Newcastle and reportedly has no future in the north-west.

Nonetheless, he has been named in the Man United squad for tonight’s Carabao Cup quarter-final against Bristol City.

Shaw made his first start in almost eight months against CSKA Moscow earlier this month and it seems he will have an opportunity to impress again this evening.

11:05KEY EVENT

Athletic Bilbao keeping tabs on Mikel Merino

La Liga side Athletic Bilbao are keeping tabs on Mikel Merino, according to reports in Spain.

The Basque outfit wanted to sign Merino in the summer, but he opted to join Newcastle on loan.

The Spanish under-21 international has since joined Newcastle on a permanent basis, but the club are currently in the relegation zone.

Should United be relegated to the Championship, the report states that they will go back in for Merino in the summer.

The Spanish side only recruit players from the wider Basque region, and Navarre - where Merino was born - falls under that category.

Mikel Merino of Newcastle United (Image: Newcastle United)

10:21KEY EVENT

NUFC reportedly sound out Jaap Stam as Benitez replacement

According to Italian website Tutto Mercato, Newcastle are preparing for Rafa Benitez leaving the club at the end of the season.

Should the Spaniard jump ship, they will move for Reading boss Jaap Stam - who guided the Royals to the Championship play-off final last season.

You can read the full story in the link above.

Reading manager Jaap Stam (Image: Eddie Greville)

10:14Craig Johns

Newcastle stars visit children's hospital

Always a lovely thing every Christmas...

09:42Craig Johns

Swansea's Paul Clement at risk of sack

This according to the Daily Mail.

They claim defeat on Saturday against Crystal Palace could result in the Swansea hierarchy swinging the axe on Clement, offering a new man time to come in and turn the club around, and sign reinforcements in January.

It’s a worry for Newcastle who have seen other relegation rivals such as Palace and West Ham rejuvenated by new managers.

It’s also almost 12 months since Swansea made the decision last season to sack Bob Bradley, bringing in Clement to lead them to safety after taking over with them joint-bottom of the table.

Paul Clement, Manager of Swansea City (Image: Getty Images Europe)

09:08KEY EVENT

Benitez's position safe - report

According to a report from our sister paper the Mirror today, Rafa Benitez maintains the full backing of the Newcastle United board despite the club’s slump in form.

Simon Bird writes that Benitez is key to the club being sold and is therefore in no way in danger of losing his job despite eight defeats and one draw in the last nine matches.

The report also claims Benitez could get up to £40m to spend in next month’s transfer window if a price can be agreed to sell the club to Amanda Staveley.

08:54Craig Johns

Newcastle's lowest moment of 2017

Sky Sports have done a feature looking at each club’s lowest moment of 2017.

And for Newcastle they’ve gone for the disappointing summer transfer window. They write:

Before we had even reached September, there were major signs of discontent at Newcastle.

Rafa Benitez had spoken several times in the media about a lack of funding in the summer, with his desire to push Newcastle into a top-half side after bouncing straight back to the Premier League.

Deadline Day saw Newcastle linked with Matt Targett, Lucas Perez and Kenedy, but they ended up with nothing.

Benitez had given an exclusive interview to Sky Sports’ Patrick Davison just weeks before, not hiding his dissatisfaction at the lack of transfer activity, and Toon fans were feeling concerned come the evening of August 31 that the Spaniard would abandon the club.